Cloud of Witnesses – Celebrating 210^th Anniversary of International Ministries

Prof. Dr Shimreingam Shimray

Principal of Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Assam, NE India

There are many friends who come from a poor family to theological college, and I come from a very poor family. My father, who just passed away on the 25^th of January 2024, was a deeply committed Christian who spent much of his time serving the church and association as Youth Promoter of Northern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association as volunteer service, volunteer evangelist to the east and south of Tangkhul country, missionary, chaplain, etc. My mother was a cultivator. I completed my high school in Government school without paying a fee. My parents supported my theological education with borrowed money.

Today I am a teacher by profession, human rights activist by choice, and administrator by assignment. I am someone who never tries to do great things but small things in a great way. I had no interest in the teaching profession. In fact, I turned down the first three calls by my teachers in 1989-90; but the need of Eastern Theological College (ETC) made me reconsider as the calling of God for a purpose. And yet, after that, I told my teachers to contact my local church, the Phungyo Baptist Church, Ukhrul which is the first church in Manipur. And on permission I joined ETC in June 1990. My first month’s salary was Rs. 920, which was just enough for me to manage at Jorhat with the expectation from my parents ignored.

My acknowledgement is that what I am is possible because of the contribution of the International Ministries which assisted me during my higher studies under South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI). I am deeply grateful to the leaders of the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India for such a facility made available to me. I am now serving Eastern Theological College, Jorhat as its Principal.